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J. R. RHEUBOTTOM, Deod., H. E. RHEUoTToM, Administrator. CORSET.

. Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

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3 ame6ewZoZZ0m (No Model.)

NITED STATES PATnNT Tries,

JAMES RHEUBOTTOM, OF VEEDSPORT, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO FRANKMQMACK, OF SAME PLACE; HOMER E. RHEUBOTTOM ADMINISTRATOR OF SAlD JAMESR. RHEUBOTTOM, DEOEASED.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,320, dated April 6,1886.

Application filed August Q5, 1885. Serial No. 175,307. (No modil.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. RHnUBorToM, a citizen of the United States,residing at "Weedsport, in the county of Cayuga and State ot' New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps and Shields forCorset-Stifeners and Bustles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved clasp and shield for fasteningcorsetstitfeners, or for securing strips of horn, whalebone, metal, orother like material in various articles, and for protecting corsets andlike articles from wear and chafng by the ends of such stilieners.

The invention consists of a clasp or shield made of a double strip ofthin flexible metal,

stitched or otherwise secured to or within a corset, bustle, or likearticle, and loosely inclosing the ends of the steels or stiffeners, insuch a manner as to allow the stiffeners to move endwise in the clasp orshield without moving or tending to move the latter, whereby the freeand unattached ends of the steels or stiffeners are prevented fromcoming iu wearing contact with the body of the article.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is abroken plan view of a portion of a corset or like article withstifteners and clasps or shields applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 3 shows my invention applied to the back of acorset, or to the strip that supports the lacingeyelets. Fig. 4 is atransverse section on the line or x of Fig. l.

Referring to these drawings, the numeral l designates a portion of acorset or other like article, having the usual places for insertion ofstiffeners 2, of whalebone, horn, metal, or other material.

In order to secure these stiffeners or steels2 without coniining theirends rigidly, but in such a manner as to prevent the ends of saidstiil'eners from coniingin wearing contact with the cloth, I employ ateach end a clasp or shield, 3, that is secured to the corset or likearticle, and adapted to inclose loosely the adjacent ends of severalstiffeners. The shield or clasp 3 consists of a doubled strip of thinlexible metal. These clasps or shields 3 are iirnily secured to thecorset or like article, preferably by the stitching that forms thepockets in which the stiffeners are inclosed. Each clasp or shield ismade sufficiently wide to inclose the ends of two or more adjacentstiffeners, and is secured to the corset or like article in such a waythat its doubled portion or fold/l will be at right angles to thelongitudinal axes' of the stiffeners. lt will thus be seen that eachclasp 3 is closed on its folded edge, and that this folded edge 4 limitsthe longitudinal movement-of the stiifeners and prevents their ends fromcoming in contact with the cloth body of the corset or like article. Theclasps or shields Sare also secured to the corset in such a way as to bedivided longitudinally into pockets -one for the reception of eachstiiiener end. These elongated pockets 5, closed at one end, are formedby the stitching 6 andlines of perforations 7,pro duced by the needle inattaching the clasp or shield to the article, the action ot' the threadserving to draw the thi n light substance of the clasp more closelytogether through the line of stitching, with the effect of looselyinclosing the stiffener ends in theintervening poc-kn ets. lThestifteners 2 and their clasps or shields 3 are thus preferably securedat suitable points between theinner and outer thicknesses of the corsetduring its manufacture. It is obvious, however, that the clasps orshields may be secured to the corset by any other means, as well as bystitching, and they may also be formed, before attachment, withlongitudinal corrugations for the lines of stitching or otherfastenings, such corrugations serving to define the location oi' theelongated pockets that are to receive the ends ofv the stiffeners.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that at the back of the corset,or where lacing-eyelets 8 are required, the pockets 5 and stifteners 2can be so arranged as to aiiord a sufficient space for inserting saideyelets between the stiifeners, and they may also be inserted throughthe clasps 3 and constitute their fastening or a part thereof. It isobvious that by thus loosely confining the ends of the stiieners orsteels in elongated pockets 5, closed at one end, said stifteners can beso arranged as to have sufficient movement cndwise to obviate unduerigidity of the corset, and yet prevent wear and chaiing of the corsetby the ends of said stieners.

It is well known that corsets and corset covers are greatly exposed towear from the ends of the metal, horn, or whalebone strips used forstiffeners, as these stiffeners are usually cut square at the ends, thusforming cutting-edges that finally wear through the corset. To overcomethis difficulty the ends of such stiffeningstrips have sometimes beeninclosed separately in metallic tips; but as these tips were secured tothe stiffening-strips and moved therewith, they were but an imperfectprotection against chaing and wear of the corset-cloth. An open-endedclasp or fastening, with sharp points for securing it to a corset, andhaving an eyelet for limiting the play of the stiffeners, has also beenemployed, each stiffening strip having its separate clasps. This,however, I do not claim.

By my invention a corset, bustle, or like article is furnished with anumber of clasps or shields, each firmly secured to the article by`stitching or otherwise, and having two or more elongated pockets closedat one end for receiviing the ends ofthe stiEfening-strips, which arethereby held :from wearing or chating contact with the corset. Thus allehafing of the ends of the strips or stiffeners 2 is eonned to theinterior of the elongated pockets 5,and is not expended upon the corset,as would be the case if the ends of the stiffeningstrips were not fullycovered by immovable shields attached tothe corset.

It is obvious that my improved clasps and shields can be readilyattached to a corset, bustle, or other article in any required manncrtoallow the necessary margin for trimming and binding.

XVhat I claim is- 1. The combination, with the stiffeners or stays of acorset, of a clasp or shield consisting of a doubled strip of thin metalformed with a series of elongated pockets, in which the ends of thestiffeners or stays are loosely arranged to slide longitudinally thereinindependent of any movement of the clasp or u shield, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with a corset and its stiifeners 2, of the clasps 3,securely stitched in a stationary position to the corset, and having aseries of elongated pockets, 5, closed at one end,'for receiving theends of said stifteners, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. RHEUBOTIOM.

IVi tnesses:

H. E. 'RHEUo'rroin WM. HENDERSON.

